When the evenin’ sun goes down
You will find me hangin’ ’round
Oh, the night life, it ain’t no good life
But it’s my life…–Willie Nelson “Night Life”
When we think about nightlife, there is something about it that can act like a swizzle stick to the soul and stir up the social animal within all of us. When the sun goes down, we want to be where the action is – the action can most often be in the heart of the city.
Amidst the constant buzz of neon signs and street lights, bars, nightclubs and late-night restaurants you can hear the constant chatter of conversation along with the smack of billiard balls, the glorious din of live music and clank of silverware and glasses. Indeed, the sights and sounds of nightlife have a magic all of its own.
If you are clean and sober, however, the nightlife ain’t no life – in fact, it can spell certain doom for your recovery.
In Search of A Different Kind of Buzz
It’s true, recovery opens new doors and we can boldly go places where we never dreamed was possible. When it comes to the late night scene, however, the door is shut and the proverbial velvet rope is up.
We aren’t a glum lot, and we want to have our share of fun, but the late night menu that is offered is full of things that we unfortunately can’t have.
Yeah, we can go to an open mic night, hang out at a coffee shop or find the nearest drop-in center, but we crave the social interaction of late night action. What are we to do?
If you are Kyle Kuehn of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, you take the bull by the horns and look to open a sober bar called Lights Out.
For Kuehn, it isn’t just about opening a sober nightclub – it’s about starting a revolution and changing the landscape of how we think about nightlife.
Open Late, Promoting Sobriety, and Coming to a City Near You!
Kyle Kuehn is a young man full of motivation and bold ideas in regards to sober nightlife. As a veteran of the food and beverage industry for over a decade, he has seen people struggle with drug and alcohol abuse – and he has also experienced his own struggles.
In the fall of 2014, Kuehn first thought of the idea of opening a place where people can enjoy a sense of community and socialization, and do so free without the temptation of drugs and alcohol. The idea grew as he overcame his own addictions and realized how out of place he felt when he could go out and socialize at nightclubs and other venues.
His idea was simple:
Imagine if a night club and a coffee shop had a baby, and that baby rocked all night long without drugs or alcohol. That’s a sober bar. That’s Lights Out!
The concept of Lights Out is simple – it is a cafe-style lounge that offers patrons food and a variety of non-alcoholic beverages while providing entertainment and other activities. He looks to provide an atmosphere which provides a healthier alternative to bar culture and help free people from the constraints of drugs and alcohol.
Currently, Kuehn is putting together a series of events that will culminate in the official opening of Lights Out in the fall of 2016.
Lights Out: Something More Than Just A Sober Nightclub
With Lights Out, Kuehn is looking to do more than just offering a place for those who are sober to come to in the late night hours. He seeks to reach out to ALL people who want to have a good time without the use of substances. For him, Lights Out has a mission to help those in the recovery movement and be a positive influence in the community.
Kuehn’s goals aren’t just limited to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The ultimate goal is for Lights Out to be nationwide and change the way addiction and recovery is currently viewed in communities across the country. By providing an alternative such as Lights Out, Kuehn wants to put forth the message that the “buzz” is not about the product that is consumed, but from the interaction from one another.
If you want to know more about Kyle and Lights Out, check it out on the web at www.letschangeculture.com. You can also follow Lights Out on Facebook as well as Twitter at @soberbars
Helping to Bring Recovery to the Forefront
Sober Nation loves to share with you stories of people like Kyle Kuehn who are looking to strengthen the recovery community. We will continue to throw the spotlight on those people and organizations who are doing their part to bring recovery to the forefront, help eliminate the stigma that surrounds addiction, and bring the noise and message that recovery is possible.
Be sure to check out our blogs, articles and treatment resources. If you dig what you see, be sure to follow us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@Sober_Nation).
Does anyone else find it weird that the main photo for this sober bar is a guy drinking beer? uh…
It’s coffee.
This concept will have some success but he won’t attract the crowd that regularly attends the popular night clubs and bars. Rather, it will be a similar crowd to what regular old Starbuck’s attracts. Love the intiative, though.
We need one in Austin TX!
Though it may be coffee, it looks like a dark beer!!! very strange photo
Much wishes for success. Communities which want positive changes and fewer social problems need to embrace and promote this concept.
I wish him luck with this and hope he provides live music for his patrons. It’s getting to be nearly impossible for the under 21 crowd to see real musicians doing their craft, and this would be a wonderful opportunity.
this is what Lancaster city needs,in fact it is what all of us need,even if you
do drink alcohol or any other substance you are addicted to,please give
this idea some thought,it may help you realize that fun times can be had,
remember man,as the classic rock band Traffic says:
“we were children once,playing with toys”